It’s the one fact about Mexico that you probably didn’t know. The country’s name is not really Mexico, at least not officially. After gaining independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico officially became the “United Mexican States.”

The American independence movement had inspired Mexican leaders of that era and since Mexico, in fact, also was a territory composed of states, the name stuck and became official in 1824.

But the reality is the official name is used only by Mexican officials who deal with diplomatic protocol and official documents pertaining to international relations. For the rest of Mexicans — and the world — the country is simply known as Mexico.

That’s why outgoing Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday sent to the Mexican Congress a piece of legislation to change the country’s name officially to simply Mexico.

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In announcing his decision to propose officially changing his country’s name, Calderon said Thursday the name United Mexican States was originally taken because back in 1824 the United States of America was an example of democracy and liberty for the new independent nations in the Americas.

“It’s time that we Mexicans retake the beauty and simplicity of our motherland’s name: Mexico. (It’s) a name that we use when chanting or singing, a name that identifies us throughout the world and that makes us proud,” Calderon said.

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dhs

There are many millions of other items that Mexico should retake.

FourFooted_Messiah

Well, that might be a mistake on their part. I’m still miffed that my country is no longer called “The Dominion of Canada” and is now just a bland “Canada”, with a bland flag, and a bland national anthem. It was the blanding of the Dominion that led to our defacing by multiculturalism, after all.

Bring back the Dominion, and the Red Ensign, and “The Maple Leaf Forever”. Bring back our Anglo-Franco identity.

IstvanIN

It was always my understanding that in the negotiations leading up to Canada’s formal independence from the United Kingdom in 1982 that there was a proposal to rename your nation “Kingdom of Canada”, but the US State Department told your government that there would be no “kingdoms” in the Americas. The Monroe Doctrine taken to extremes. We are a meddlesome bunch.

Congratulations on getting your Royal Navy and Air Force back!

FourFooted_Messiah

Oh? I did not know that, thank you for the heads-up.

It’s sort of like now, I guess, when most parties (besides the Conservatives) wish to follow the will of the majority of Canadians and allow us to have legal marijuana, but are worried about what the US government will think (why should we care?) I think that’s the only real reason the ruling Cons are against it, Steve Harper playing “Mr Religious Family Man” notwithstanding. It would be better for the “kids” we’re demanded to think of if the stuff was locked away behind doors that say “NO MINORS” (ie, liquor stores). Ah well, BC is having a referendum on that next year, so I hear.

And before anyone gets their panties in a bunch, I once saw on TV some years ago (when I still had one) some Somali-born imam _demand_ that Canada legalize khat or be seen as “racist” against Somali culture. I don’t know what “khat” is, and don’t really care to, but my only response was “stand in line, buddy”.

David Ashton

Have the cannabis legalizers no connection with the multiculturalists?
In Britain they are partners in a shared “liberalism”.
But good luck to anyone who wants to bring the British, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders back together, preferably under the Crown, but together anyway.

IstvanIN

Can you imagine how powerful the British Commonwealth would be today if, after the war, the colonies had all been given independence and the Commonwealth consisted solely of Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia? British outposts in the four corners of the world. White and largely educated. With a free exchange of trade and people ONLY among those four nations (they would be the only members, the only countries under the Crown), with a single language and common culture, a common head of state, committed to supporting one another through thick and thin. Bound by blood, tradition and common moral purpose. Not an artificial construct like the old Empire or the USSR, or Yugoslavia, how different the world would be today!

Bismark

I am really proud of people like you who respect your countries old traditions. As a loyal Australian, I too feel that my country is being stolen from the ordinary citizens of this great nation.

mobilebay

If they’re taking suggestions, I vote for “As-far-from-the-US -as-possible- Mexico.”

William Allingham

In fact it was more than “inspiration”, they dont only took the name from the USA; also their whole constitution! mexicans have much pride because thats the last solace of a failed culture, in the case of mexico you dont have to invent anything in order to make it “yours” and feel proud of it.

In Spain TODAY sometimes is still written as “mejico”. the J was presumably changed to X because it fitted better for an English pronunciation. like putting a catchy name to a product you want to sell.

Even if it were called “Dirty neighbors of the USA; common mexicans wouldn’t notice anyway

change a name wont improve the moral sensors of mexicans but if it does the trick mexican corrupt leaders will appeal to the tribal instincts of their flock.

JackKrak

I have lots of names for Mexico that aren’t “official”…….

DudeWheresMyCountry?

Mexicans are like children about their history. They act like the name Mexico means something. They don’t know what it means. In fact, in the 1820s when Spain left them to their own devices they didn’t know what to call what was known as New Spain. They named their country like expansion football teams come up with their nicknames… throw things at the wall and something will stick. Just like when Mexicans express their love for their “language” I laugh and tell them they are just bowing to their historical overlords when speaking Spanish.

potato78

Canada, America, Mexico will be called as “United Mexican States” in the next 100 years.

Liberalsuck

Unless the white people’s of America and Canada grow a racial spine by then and fight with all their might.

Smeagol2

They had to drop “United Mexican States” so it could be given collectively to Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and California in a few years.

libertarian1234

“(It’s) a name that we use when chanting or singing, a name that identifies us throughout the world and that makes us proud,” Calderon said.”

How can any government be proud of a country that encourages its citizens to migrate to other countries, because it can’t feed them?

The__Bobster

Oh, it CAN feed its peones. Mexico is a relatively wealthy country. The rich upper class just refuses to.

IstvanIN

We are the Mexican elites safety release valve. We are the town dump on the other side of the tracks so they don’t have to look at their own trash.

fakeemail

The United States of America was the greatest thing to ever happen to Mexico and Mexicans. What a stroke of luck for them that the (former) greatest country of all time was right next door to their dung heap.

nobody

Why do these people think that America would still be a great place to live if it had the same racial makeup of the dirty, dangerous, third world pile of crap that they just escaped from?